This afternoon, the Director General of Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), Teyba Hassen, held an introductory meeting with GIZ’s Social Transformation Cluster at her office.
Welcoming Mr. Johannes Strittmatter and the GIZ delegation, the Director General expressed her sincere appreciation to BMZ and GIZ for their continued partnership in advancing Ethiopia’s refugee inclusion agenda. She noted that Ethiopia continues to host a large refugee population amid both new emergencies and protracted situations, while declining humanitarian financing is placing increasing pressure on the sustainability of services.
Highlighting RRS’ strategic direction, the Director General emphasized the need to transition from humanitarian assistance to sustainable, system-based approaches that foster self-reliance. She underscored ongoing institutional reforms designed to support this shift and commended GIZ’s contributions to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), including its support to the National TVET Strategy and the Makatet Roadmap.
The meeting also acknowledged the progress made in the Somali Region’s R-WASH and water utility projects, which are transitioning to regional and municipal management – marking a significant step toward sustainable, government-led service delivery.
Looking ahead, RRS welcomed the forthcoming GIZ–UNHCR joint initiative, as well as Germany’s commitments under the Global Refugee Forum (GRF). The Service reaffirmed its readiness to support the upcoming assessment mission and ensure effective and impactful implementation.
RRS reiterated its commitment to advancing a clear vision of moving from dependency to dignity through strengthened partnerships, sustainable financing, and phased, context-driven inclusion approaches.
